Pramahasma Shivnarayani was a saint from Chandravar village in the Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh who lived in the 18th and the beginning of the 19th century. He was the son of Babu Baghray and his guru was Dukh Haran. Paramahamsa Shivnarayani is the founder of Shivnarayani Panth, a cult following of his devotees. He wrote about 13 texts on sainthood, saintly life and their philosophy. His bhajans and songs emphasize the possibility of living in dispassion and in a saintly manner while being a householder, without having taken saintly vows. The songs also talk about eradicating untouchability, the upward mobility of the depressed classes and societal development.

The songs are unique for having been composed in Santau Kaharwa Taal, which goes on and off the tempo during the song, deliberately. Mahendra Yadav performs Shivnarayani bhajans, along with many other folk forms of Eastern Uttar Pradesh. The songs are popularly performed on different occasions in the villages, and during jagarans, when devotees pray all night. The group also performs Birha, Nirgun bhajan, Qawwali and even Gazals. Birha is particularly associated with the Yadav caste to which Mahendra Yadav belongs, and they can perform it in 8 different rasas.